Navigate:

Letter to the editor

Reggie Brown, who represents the Florida tomato growers in a major trade dispute over the import of Mexican tomatoes in the U.S., ignores several important points in his POLITICO comments on the matter.

He doesn’t mention that it’s primarily the Florida tomato growers who are calling on the U.S. government scrap the tomato trade agreement with Mexico. My organization represents many different American industry sectors, including growers from other parts of the U.S., that believe the agreement has served both countries and consumers well since it was adopted 16 years ago.

Text Size

-

+

reset

Indeed, if this relatively small group of Florida growers get their way, consumers will probably pay much more for tomatoes at the cash register than they do now and thousands of businesses and jobs on the U.S. side of the border (truckers, importers, wholesalers and retailers) could be lost. The Florida growers’ self-serving actions will only compensate for their own bad business decisions and take the U.S. dangerously close to doing profound damage to an American economy that can ill afford that right now, if ever.

In mid-October, the Mexican growers made a number of proposals – major concessions – that should reassure everyone that they mean it when they say they want to play fairly. It’s now up to the Florida growers to do the same.

Lance Jungmeyer, President of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.

Readers' Comments (1)

Barclay in the header lines again "We believe that our trading was legitimate and in compliance with applicable law," Barclays spokesman Mark Lane said in an email. "We have cooperated fully with the FERC investigation, which relates to trading activity that occurred several years ago. We intend to vigorously defend this matter." It is the latest blow for the British bank, which has fired staff, clawed back pay and taken other disciplinary action after being fined $450 million by U.S. and British regulators over Libor. Earlier on Wednesday Barclays announced that the US department of justice and the securities and exchange commission were probing whether it was complying with US laws in its relationships with third parties who help it win or retain business. The FERC order suggests the agency was unable to reach a settlement with Barclays through negotiations, indicating the issue is likely to head toward an administrative court, says Craig Pirrong, an expert in energy trade regulation. I thank you Firozali A.Mulla DBA